Making a sequel to a remake of a movie that's already made a sequel to.
Info from ComingSoon.net.
How many times are they gonna remake Ju-On?
- CS: So you're making a sequel to a remake of a movie that you already made a sequel to. Are you going to do something completely different or try to keep parts of the original sequel?
Takashi Shimizu: "The Grudge" was a complete remake of "Ju-On", meaning the storyline was very similar, basically the same, but "Grudge 2" is actually different from "Ju-On 2." I don't think I would have accepted this job, if it was going to be the same storyline. Since it is a different story, my motivation was a lot higher, and I actually enjoyed doing this.
CS: Do you think that you'll cater this more towards American audiences, since you're making it more for them than the Japanese audience who didn't like the remake as much?
Shimizu: "The Grudge," the remake was done in just two years from the original, so I don't think there was enough time for [Japanese] people to want to see the remake again. Also, it was exactly the same storyline from the original. If we do the promotion right for "The Grudge 2," meaning it's going to be a completely different story from "Ju-On 2," I think that's going to attract an audience in Japan.
CS: Do you find it difficult to bring freshness to a film franchise that you've already done six times before?
Shimizu: Yes, it's very difficult to keep it fresh. Since I've been doing this so many times, I feel like I'm just repeating things over and over. There isn't really much to do there, meaning they're so limited and those scary depictions are always similar now. It's just really hard coming up with new ideas, and if I don't find it fresh, audiences aren't going to find it fresh either, so it is difficult.
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Studio: Columbia Pictures
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Screenwriter: Stephen Susco
Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Arielle Kebbel, Jennifer Beals, Teresa Palmer, Takako Fuji, Ryo Ishibashi, Misako Uno, Shaun Sipos, Edison Chen
Genre: Horror
Official Website: DoYouHaveaGrudge.com
More info at ComingSoon.